Page 24 of Quarantined
Everyone goes back to dancing. I politely dodge a few females, as they try to dance with me. Not interested. I need a safe distance away from these prying teenage females, who are trying to get frisky with me.
More importantly, I need a drink. So I head back to the restaurant bar.
The bar area is packed with my college friends, including Brandon, Asher, Jaci, and Alexa. All five of us have become very close, as we have been working on launching an iOS app together.
It started as a project for one of our classes. Our professor was very impressed and suggested that we go to networking events to meet investors. He personally invested in our first round of fundraising and invited us to multiple exclusive networking events.
We have met potential investors who are interested in acting as our silent investors. Now the app is in its developmental phase. The release date is set for the summer of next year, which means our senior year will be spent fixing bugs in the app and beta testing.
We discuss our next course of action and exchange our plan of action for the summer. I will be spending a good portion of it in Paris, but I plan to still stay involved via email and calls.
As we talk, I can’t help but watch Raven from the corner of my eyes. Most of the men tonight are watching her as well, unable to tear their leering eyes off her.
When she passes by, I try to engage her in conversation again. She dodges me, like how I dodged her annoying friends. My ego is severely bruised tonight, and I am beyond frustrated.
“Who do you keep looking at from the corner of your eyes?” Alexa tries to follow my gaze.
“No one.”
“Doesn’t seem like no one to me.”
Are all the women in my life trying to annoy me to death tonight?
I smile politely. “Come on, guys. I will buy you a round of shots.”
We start taking shots. And then another round. Soon enough, Alexa gets handsy. Too handsy. We have hooked up in the past, but I’ve always made it clear that I don’t want anything past a friendship.
I haven’t exactly lived a celibate lifestyle. But lately, something is always missing during sex. A release without emotional ties.
I politely decline all of Alexa’s advances. She takes the hint and moves on. Alexa is not a pushy girl. Thank God! This is why we can remain friends.
Still, I remain annoyed throughout the night. By midnight, we are cheering and singing the happy birthday song to Reid and Raven. A little after, I get a text from the limo driver. I asked him to come back after midnight, so I can take Mia home. Moving to the dance floor, I search for the little trouble maker.
“Mia, limo is here.”
“Thank God. Let’s go. My feet are killing me. And I hate this dress. It itches.”
I am shocked. Wearing big girl heels has caught up with Mia. Maybe I don’t mind her wearing heels and dressing up. Not if it’s going to suck some of that extra energy out of her.
“Alright, grab your stuff.”
I look for Raven. I wonder if she wants to come back with us. All the guys have been ogling Raven tonight. In the back of my head, I am praying that she is done with the party too. But Raven is nowhere to be found.
“Let’s go.” Mia tugs my hand impatiently, as she whines to go back home.
We have to leave before she throws a tantrum. I take solace in the fact that I have never seen Raven display much interest in men. Those fucks can leer all they want; it won’t happen.
So I hug Reid goodbye. I remind him that the limo will come back in an hour to pick them up.
The ride back home is quiet. Mia passes out immediately, exhausted from all the dancing she did in high heels. My mind is still reeling from Raven’s aloof nature towards me. It leaves a tightness in my chest that I can’t explain.
Once we are home, I carry Mia inside and put her to bed. And I try to do the same. But suddenly, I feel the onset of a panic attack coming along.
Shit.
My heart is pumping like it’s about to burst out of my chest. I am trying to take deep breaths, but the oxygen is not reaching my lungs.
I need to talk to Raven. She always talks me down. If I am at the house, she strokes my cheeks and breathes with me. If I am on campus, we speak on the phone as she counts down with me. Hell, even texting with her calms me down.
